The final week of January in the UK doesn't find many of us bursting with energy. Daylight hours are so short it can seem hardly worth starting anything before darkness falls again. And after the initial pleasure of looking out on a soft white world, the snow soon loses its charm - in town at any rate - and turns into a slippery nuisance.
Feeling quite 'January' myself, I thought I would go for a nice easy job such as putting together the box of abandoned toys to go up in the loft space.
Well, you know what it's like, reviewing your stash and trying to assemble a specific part of it. It always takes far longer than you imagine because things have migrated to different drawers, boxes and bags, and some have mysteriously vanished altogether. I was surprised at how many toys I had managed to collect over the years, not only bought but also homemade ones and swaps with friends, some even came out of Xmas crackers (like the skittles and the racing car).
I finally put together a selection of possibilities, although I haven't quite made the final choice yet.
Because the toys that I choose will need to look dusty and cobwebby, I don't think I want to distress the little white lamb that my daughter made for me, nor do I want to risk spoiling the china kitten in the gingham dress. I received her years ago from Sue Atkinson of Sunday Dolls, when our mini-stationery business designed and made a range of tiny display boxes for her dolls house dolls' dolls!
I think the mini dolls house, the golly and the funny lopsided teddy (also made by my daughter) will form the basis of the forgotten toy group. The charmingly detailed house (50 x 50 x 32 mm) is actually a box when you lift the roof off. It's made of coloured straw, from China of course. Wooden Mr Noah is genuinely worn already, it would be great if I can paint and age the horse on wheels to match him.
Look, I've found an old cardboard box, which I'm going to cut down a bit - so really there's no reason for me to delay any longer, is there?
Watch this space . . .
charliechas
to 2013. Sorry for the gap in communications but I've been laid up with the mother and father of coughs that sapped all my energy, even for minis (and yes, Charlie is still waiting for his hair and/or a pair of trousers).
Here's one more bit of caboodle before I get back to proper work. It's a dumb waiter or tiered table, made by a woodworker friend of mine.
The five little cats are just a handful of the collection that I usually keep displayed in a compositor's case. They wouldn't all fit into Brennans, although I think these will be OK as ornaments or antiques - except for the 'real' ginger one who will amuse passers-by cutely arranging himself in a sunny shop window. The tiny Egyptian goddess Bast, on the top shelf, is one of Neil Carter's creations and the blue and white china cat below is one of Carol Lodder's.
charliechas
Just a brief post to mark the new year, with greetings to those who drop in from time to time on my Bon Marché build, and greatly looking forward to seeing what clever, amusing and beautiful things everyone else will be engaged on during 2013.
Wishing you all that you wish yourselves,
charliechas
